it

it ► PRONOUN (third person sing. ) 1) used to refer to a thing previously mentioned or easily identified. 2) referring to an animal or child of unspecified sex. 3) used to identify a person: it's me. 3) used in the normal subject position in statements about time, distance, or weather: it is raining. 4) used to refer to something specified later in the sentence: it is impossible to get there today. 5) used to emphasize a following part of a sentence: it is the child who is the victim. 6) the situation or circumstances. 7) exactly what is needed or desired.

ORIGIN Old English, neuter of HE(Cf. ↑he).